An ancient-style ship will depart Tuesday from Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province for a navigation of the maritime Silk Road opened by a prestigious Chinese sea voyager 600 years ago.

A ceremony will be held Tuesday in Qingdao City for the voyage, which is to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the seven voyages of Zheng He, a Muslim in the imperial Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) who traveled to West Asia and East Africa between 1405 and 1433, according to local sources.

Pioneering the first express sea-route through the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, Zheng He's voyages were 87, 92 and 114 years earlier than those of Columbus, Vasco da Gama and Magellan.

The seven voyages are also considered early demonstrations of China's peaceful diplomacy.

Dubbed "Lu Meimao", or "Green Eyebrow", the ship is said to be China's largest imitation of an ancient ship model dating back 800 years ago. The model was used for the fleet of Zheng He during his legendary voyages.

The vessel, 31 meters long and 6.8 meters wide, with 3 masts and 4 sails, was built by the Putuo New Port Shipyard in east China's Zhejiang Province.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2005)